Road Transport (Long Distance Operations) 2025 Pay Rates (MA000039)

Plain-English Summary

Who does this award cover?

The Road Transport (Long Distance Operations) covers employees engaged in long-distance road transport operations, which means transport over distances that require the driver to be away from their home depot overnight. If you drive trucks on interstate or long-haul routes and sleep away from home, this award applies to you. It covers approximately 25,000 workers across Australia.

This award does NOT cover short-distance delivery drivers (Road Transport and Distribution Award, MA000038), bus and coach drivers (Passenger Vehicle Transportation Award, MA000063), or owner-drivers who are independent contractors. See clause 4.1 for the full coverage terms.

How classification levels work

The award classifies employees based on the method of payment: kilometre driving method or hourly driving method. Each has different rate structures reflecting the nature of long-distance operations.

Key features of this award

Long-distance drivers may be paid by the kilometre or by the hour. The award includes specific provisions for loading and unloading rates, and higher rates for work on public holidays including Christmas Day and Good Friday.

Classification Levels and Base Rates

All rates effective 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2024-25.

Refer to the Fair Work Commission pay guide for MA000039 for current dollar amounts for each classification level. Hourly rate = weekly rate / 38. Casual rate = hourly rate x 1.25.

Penalty Rates

Penalty rate multipliers from the Fair Work Commission penalty rate schedule for MA000039. All penalties are calculated on the base hourly rate.

The award specifies penalty rates ranging from 20% to 125% depending on when and how you work.

Full-Time and Part-Time Employees

Casual Employees

Penalty rate categories in this award

The following penalty rate descriptions apply under MA000039:

• Christmas or Good Friday
• Hourly driving method
• Kilometer driving method
• Loading or unloading
• Public holiday

Casual penalty rates include the 25% casual loading. Refer to the specific award clauses for exact percentages applicable to each classification level and employment type.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Casual worker on a Sunday

A casual employee working a N/A (paid by distance or shift)-hour minimum shift on a Sunday.

• Base hourly rate: refer to your classification level in the MA000039 pay guide
• Sunday casual rate: base rate x Sunday casual penalty percentage
• Minimum payment: Sunday casual rate x N/A (paid by distance or shift) hours
• Clause reference: refer to casual penalty rates clause

Example 2: Full-time worker on a public holiday

A full-time employee working an 8-hour public holiday shift.

• Base hourly rate: refer to your classification level in the MA000039 pay guide
• Public holiday rate: base rate x public holiday percentage (up to 125%)
• Total: public holiday rate x 8 hours
• Clause reference: refer to public holiday clause

Example 3: Part-time worker with overtime

A part-time employee who works 2 hours beyond their rostered hours on a weekday.

• Base hourly rate: refer to your classification level in the MA000039 pay guide
• Overtime rate: base rate x overtime percentage
• Clause reference: refer to overtime clause

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I be paid by the kilometre?

Yes, the award provides for both kilometre-based and hourly-based payment methods for long-distance driving work.

2. What about loading and unloading at destinations?

The award includes specific rates for loading and unloading work performed by long-distance drivers, separate from driving rates.

3. Do I get extra for driving on Christmas Day?

Yes, work on Christmas Day and Good Friday attracts the highest penalty rates under this award.

4. What is the minimum shift length under this award?

The minimum engagement for casual and part-time employees is N/A (paid by distance or shift) per shift. Even if you are sent home early, you must be paid for the minimum shift length.

5. How do I check my exact pay rate?

Use our free calculator or refer to the Fair Work Commission pay guide for MA000039. You can also contact the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94 for free advice.

Check Your Rate

Working in long-distance road transport and want to know your exact pay rate? Use our free calculator to check.

Check your pay rate now

Select your payment method (kilometre or hourly), employment type, and the days you work.

Schema Markup Suggestions

FAQ Schema (FAQPage)

Apply FAQPage schema to the 5 FAQ questions and answers above.

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "FAQPage",
  "mainEntity": [
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Can I be paid by the kilometre?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Yes, the award provides for both kilometre-based and hourly-based payment methods for long-distance driving work."
      }
    }
  ]
}

Table Schema (Dataset)

• name: "Road Transport (Long Distance Operations) MA000039 Pay Rates July 2025"
• description: "Classification levels and penalty rates for long-distance truck drivers under the Road Transport (Long Distance Operations)"
• temporalCoverage: "2025-07-01/.."
• creator: Fair Work Commission
• license: CC BY 4.0

Breadcrumb Schema

Home > Awards > Road Transport (Long Distance Operations) (MA000039)

Rates current as of 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission, CC BY 4.0. This information is general in nature and is not legal advice. Always verify rates against the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) at calculate.fairwork.gov.au.